Flexible galley



y 17, 1932- c. CHISHOLM ,ET AL 1,858,481.

FLEXIBLE GALLEY FilEd April 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuvz'ntozi @101, @flfiyaw Ha 2 3% Kim; &%!w- I I am:

y 1932- c. CHISHOLME'i' AL 1,858,481

FLEXIBLE GALLEY Filed April 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wy 4, m/

3n ing members.

Patented May 17, 1932 warren STATES PATENT CLIFTON GHISHOLM, OF CLEVELAND, AND PETER M. COLQUHOUN, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AIvIERIGAN MULTIGRAPH 00., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FLEXIBLE GALLEY Application filed April 18,

: flexible form in such manner that the printing lmes may be readily changed, or new lines interspersed among the existing ones, with great ease and rapidity. The invention provides a flexible blanket and means thereon for engaging the ends or individual printing members to hold them as a compacted form, but allowing them to be readily separated for additions, removals or changes. The printing lines may comprise any suitable members unitary or otherwise, tho-ugh we prefer to use a composite member comprising an embossed metal strip having inwardly flanged edges and mounted on a strip-like holder of similar width and having upward projections which the embossed strip overlies and beneath which its flanges extend. Such device forms the subject matter of application No. 445,499 of Clifton Chisholm for a printing member filed concurrently herewith.

The flexible galley itself comprises a backing plate and suitable overhanging flexible slats carried thereby, these overhanging slats furnishing channels beneath their edges for the reception of the end portions of the print- Suitable followers slidably guided by the slats keep the various printing members contiguous to each other in ordinary use, but by withdrawing the follower, space is provided so that any printing member may be turned into a diagonal position to clear the printing strips, whereby it may be removed. Such clear space also enables the separation of the form between any adjacent lines and the insertion of a new strip or strips 3y reason of the same being placed diagonally and then swung to parallel relation to the other After this, the follower being returned, the new form is compacted thereby ready for use.

The printing member we prefer to employ 1930. Serial No. 445,501.

is given a tendency to become concave on its printing face. This camber feature is useful in preventing the displacement of the strip on any holder, and, broadly considered, is included in Mr. Chisho-lms application mentioned. However, the camber has a special action with the flexible galley as it prevents the strips being squeezed out of the galley when they have been compacted on the curved galley and the galley thereafter flattened. This combination is therefore included in this joint case.

Our invention includes not only the flexible galley, but also its combination with the printing members and with the follower as hereinafter more fully explained.

()ur invention isillustrated in the drawings hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of the flexible galley, intermediately broken away and showi-ng strips in position for printing and also indicating a strip positioned for removal or installation; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a printing device after the manner of the multigraph, having a rotary drum carrying the flexible galley; Fig. 3 is a cross section on a larger scale through the galley transversely thereof, as indicated by the line 8-3 on Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are details illustrating the galley construction, being fragmentary crosssections on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective of the follower employed; Fig. 7 is a perspective of a filling member which may be employed for a blank space, either at the end of the formor intermediately; Fig. 8 is a cross section in a radial plane along one of the slats of the galley for a portion of its length when it is mounted on the drum; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view indicating the relation between a holding slat and the fastening ears near the ends and in the mid region of the galley when the same is mounted on the drum; Figs. 10 and 11 indicate the composite printing member we prefer to employ, Fig. 10 being a perspective of the base or carrying strip and Fig.v

11 a perspective of the embossed printing strip. Fig. 12 is a cross section similar to Fig. 8, but showing the galley laid out flat.

The body of our flexible galley comprises a flexible metal plate 10 which may lie flat as shown in Fig. 1 or by mounting on a drum as shown in Fig. 2. This plate preferably has its end portions bent under it to provide hooked flanges. As shown in Fig. 5, the metal of the plate is bent from the body-face downwardly as at 11, then inwardly as at 12, then doubled outwardly at 13 tight upon the inward bend 12. This makes an eifective hook at each end of the plate, whereby it may be readily mounted on the printing machine by any suitable form of anchoring device.

Secured lengthwise of the plate 10 are two or more slats 20, spaced above the plate to leave a channel beneath the slat. If the galley is to carry two columns of printing members, there would be three of these slats, as shown in Fig. 1. Each slat is mounted on a narrower filler strip 22 to properly space the slat above the plate. The slats and their filler strips are secured to the plate in such a filler strips to the base by ears 15 cut out of the base, projecting upwardly therefrom first at right angles, passing through slots 24 and 25 in the filler strips and slats and then bent over onto the top of the slats, as at 17 in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. Preferably, alternate tongues are bent in opposite directions. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 9, all of the slots in a strip, which these tongues occupy, with the exception of one slot, are materially longer than the longitudinal dimension of the tongue. This enables the requisite play between the slats, strips and base when the galley is flexed. However, to prevent the slats from shifting out of place on the galley, we make that slot 24 through the slats and strips, which is located in the mid-region of the galley of practically the same length as the length of the central ear 15, as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, the slat is effectively anchored in the central region of the galley, but is free to slide in each direction therefrom as the galley is flexed.

' It will be seen that the construction described provides a base with longitudinal parallel holding devices. The printing members are low-height strip-like devices which rest on the plate 10 and have their end porgalley by placing it diagonally as indicated at 30a in Fig. 1 and then skewing it into position at right angles to the slats as shown in the case of the strips 30.

As heretofore stated, the printing member may be of any form provided it has end portions of reduced height adapted to stand beneath the slats. We prefer however, to use the composite member shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This printing members comprises a base strip 32 having overhanging stampedup buttons 33 braced by longitudinal corrugations 34, and a surmounting embossed printing strip 37 having inwardly directed edge flanges 38. This embossed strip may be made by any suitable machine, as for instance, the embossing machine shown in Patent No. 1,557,754, issued October 20, 1925 to our assignee The American Multigraph Companyas the invention of Clifton Chisholm. Narrow base strips may, if desired, be mounted in a suitable holder such as shown in my co-pending application Senal No. 445,500, and receive the printing strips directly from the embossing machine. The base strip 32 may be made in accordance with Patents Nos. 1,438,582 and 1,438,584 issued December 12, 1922 to The American Multigraph Company as the inventions of B. J.

Craig and Wm. J. Demming respectively.

In the present instance, the en-dmost corrugations 34 of the strip holder are flattened as shown at 35, to provide a smooth low-height end projection 36 adapted to project beneath the slats 20 of our blanket.

The printing strip we employ, is of slightly less length than the base strip, being preferably just a little less in length than the distance between the inner edges of two slats 20 on the galley. The result is that when the printing strip is mounted on the base strip, the base strip projects a slight distance beyond the ends of the printing strlp, as 1ndicated at 36 in Fig. 1, then when the prmting member is in place on the galley as at 30, the edges of the slats 20 prevent longitudinal shifting of the printing member on the base strip.

To cause the printing members to retain their position on the galley, notwithstanding the flexing of the galley, we prefer to give the intermediate region of the printing member a tendency to press against the plate or conversely stated, we give the ends of the member a tendency to spring up from the plate. We effect this by making all or a part of the member of spring metal, glvlng it a normally camber concave on the side of the printing face. We have found that when strips held at their ends are compacted on a curved galley, and the galley thereafter flattened, there is a tendency of the strips to force each other out of place, one strip intermediately riding upon another and being bowed upwardly out of the holder. lVe find however, that this can be entirely avoided by ca-mbering the strip in the direction stated.

When such strips are mounted on the fiex- I ible galley, and the form curved and compacted, and the galley thereafter flattened, the

The desired camber of the printing memher may be effected by cambering initially only the base strip, which is preferably of metal. The embossed strip being of softer material than the. base strip, such as aluminum, readily takes the form of the base strip without any special bending treatment.

When one is mounting the member having the camber described in place, he preferably presses downwardly with two fingers near the ends of the strip, thus flattening it against the plate 10 and then swings it to cause its ends to pass beneath the slats.

To hold the strips compacted during their printing action, we prefer to use a follower plate of spring metal. Such follower plate is indicated at 40 in Figs. 1 and 6. To retain the follower plate snugly in position in the galley, we prefer to slit the end portions of this follower strip to form intermediate cutout tongues 41 which are raised slightly from the rest of the follower and they are thus adapted to lie on top of the slats while the extreme ends of the strip 42 extend beneath the slats, thereby gripping the slats between the tongues. This gives the follower a fairly firm hold on the slats and prevents its being displaced without the application of considerable force to it. In fact, we find itconvenient to use a tool to shift this follower on the galley, such a tool being indicated at 50 in Fig. 1. This tool has a handle carrying a. fork 51 with downt-urned ends, which are adapted to enter openings 45 in the follower. Such a tool enables the fol lower to be conveniently shifted, as desired.

The column form of printing members might readily be looked upon the galley by using a pair of followers 40 for each column, one at each end of the group of members. We find. it convenient however to fix a permanent stop on the galley for one end of the column. This stop is shown as comprising a flat cross bar 60 which is anchored to thegalley by cut out ears 18 of the galley which project upwardly through corresponding openings in the cross bar and are then bent parallel with the galley, as shown in Figs. 1 and'5.

If it be desired to start the printed matter some distance below the cross bar 60, the intervening space may be occupied by suitable filler members indicated at 70. These members are flat strips 70 having reduced end portions 71. These spacing strips are preferably somewhat wider than .the printing 65 strips but are not so wide but what they can intermediately passing around the galley be conveniently mounted'in place by being placed askew on the galley and then turned, after the manner of a printing strip, into place.

As heretofore stated, our flexible galley care.

rying the assembled printing members may be mounted in any suitable manner on a printing machine.- For instance, it may be mounted on aifiat plate by any suitable means anchoring one end of the strip and pulling on the other end, to producev a chase suitable for use in a fiat-bed printing press. Such means of holding a galley isshown in Patent No. 1,640,347 issued August 30, 1927, to our assignee The American Multigraph Company. We have, however, illustrated the galley herein as mounted on a multigraph drum shown in Fig. 2, which we regard as preferable.

As appears in Fig. 2, the frame of the 'multigraph carries a roller platen .81, and a main shaft 82 carrying skeleton disks 83. On these disks is mounted a segment '84 of semicylindrical form having stiffening webs 85. Suitable'hooks 86 may look this segment to the shaft 82. The segment 8% rigidly carries near one end a cross bar 88 having an edge slot in which the inturned end 12 of the galley may extend, thus anchoring the fixed end of the galley. The other end of the galley 'may hook over a bar 90 carried by radial arms 91 extending around the .shaft 82. Suitable stop screws 93, passing through the bar 90 and abutting againstthe end of the segment 84, serve to force the bar 90 backwardly to hold the galley tightly in place. After the galley has been mounted in the drum, as described, it is ready for the printing operation and may, if desired, receive its ink from any direct inking device or an ink- 105 ing ribbon may be employed. We have shown the usual multigraph ribbon 100 mounted on spools 101 carried by the disks 83, the ribbon with its printing members. 1

It will be seen from the description given that we have provided a flexible galley carrying printing members and adapted for storage, fiat and in a very small space. The

, galleyis thin and the printing members are of low height, and thus the combined thickness of the galley and printing members is small. This enables a large number of galleys to be stored in a'very small space. On

the other hand, for use in printing, the galley with its printing members may be in- I stalled on the drum, or on a chase, very quickly simply by hooking one end of it over the anchorage and turning in the necessary screws to pull the other end to make the galley taut.

Then the galley is flat or whileit is mounted on the drum, the printing form on the galley may be changed as desired. By use of the forked handle the follower may be drawn away from the form and the form separated as desired, thus allowing additional new printing member substituted. In making such substitution if the composite print ing member is used, we can employ the same base strip of such member, simply discarding the embossed printing strip and mounting a new printing strip on the base member and then installing the freshly formed composite member.

By reason of the ability to readily vary the form, our printing device h as a large range of use, especially where it is desired to maintain part of the form by adding to it, subtracting from it or altering it. For instance in listing names and numbers in a telephone directory, the obsolete names may be discarded and the new subscribers names inserted and the list kept absolutely up to date. In printing price lists, which vary from time to time, the device is extremely useful; likewise in printing lists of employees, stockholders, etc. These are simply illustrations of a large number of uses to which the invention may be put.

It may be noted that a system of printing, involving the use of a flexible galley, which may be of the type herein described and claimed, is set out and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 457,200.

We claim 1. The combination of a flexible base carrying a pair of spacially arranged parallel overhanging slats and composite printing members extending transversely of the slats and comprising a base portion and a printing portion removably carried by the base portion, the ends of the base portion extending beneath the slats.

2. The combination of a flexible base having overhanging slats, a printing member having a base strip surmounted by an embossed printing strip slidably mounted thereon, the base strip projecting beneath the slats and the embossed printing strip lying be tween the edges of the slats and having its ends substantially abutting the slats.

8. The combination of a flexible base plate, flexible longitudinal slats anchored on the base plate to have a slidable movement as the plate flexes, printing members having printing strips and base strips, the base strips extending beneath the overhang of the slats and having upwardly extending projections, and the printing members being shorter than the base strips and comprising embossed strips with inwardly flanged edges, said embossed strips being slidably mounted on the base stripsand being adapted to stand between the slats when the base strips extend beneath the slats. i

4. The combination of aflexible base plate, retaining devices thereon, and cambered printing members concave on the printing face when unmounted but adapted when their ends are held by the retaining devices to lie substantially flat.

5. The combination of a flexible base plate "7o 7. The combination of a flexible basefc o overhanging flexible slats carried thereby, and a substantially straight follower frictionally gripping the slats and having means for the engagement of a hand tool.

8. The combination of a flexible base plate,

slidably anchoredparallel overhanging flexible slats thereon, printing members substantially straight when mounted and having end portions to project beneath the slats,

and a substantially straight follower to project beneath the slats tohold its place by frictional engagement.

9. The combination of a flexible base, overhanging flexible slats carried thereby, line printing members substantially when mounted and having reduced ends extending beneath theslats, and nonprinting fillers having reduced ends extending beneath'the slats.

10. A printing device having a flexible'loo base and a pair of inwardly overhanging parallel flexible members carried thereby and spaced apart, and individual printing lines adapted to be mounted flat on the base in a direction crosswise of the overhanging members and having end portions extending beneath such members, and having clearance from the edges of the members sufficient to enable the individual printing lines to be skewed into a position free from the members.

1 11. The combination of a flexible base, a pair of flexible slats carried thereby and arranged to leave open channels between the adjacent edges of the slats and the base, and

printing members each adapted to print a line and flat when in position and having projecting end portions adapted to extend into'such open channels, and having clearance from the edges'of the slats sufficient to enable the individual printing lines to be skewed into a position where they maybe removed.

12. A flexible galley comprising'a base,

and overhanging slats slidably anchored to and the edges of the slats to enable the instraight '95 dividual printing members to be skewed free from the slats.

13. A galley comprising a thin base plate with a row of upturned integral ears aligned edgewise and a slat having openings longer than the ears through which such ears extend, the ears being bent down on top of the slat.

In witness whereof, We hereunto aflix our signatures.

CLIFTON OHISI-IOLM. PETER M. COLQUHOUN. 

